Tool carrying case

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed an improved tool carrying case, specifically designed to accommodate equipment employed by electrical power supply line maintenance personnel for use as when &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;jumping&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; a power supply line around an electrical device requiring surveillance/replacement, or the like. The carrying case of the present invention is constructed to accommodate in improved manner a number of differently sized fuses, as well as the test tool parts per se.

United States Patent 1191 Sullivan 1 Dec. 16, 1975 1 TOOL CARRYING CASE[75] Inventor: Lyle L. Sullivan, Olean, NY.

[73] Assignee: Olean Case Corporation, Olean,

22 Filed: Feb. 11, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 441,120

52 U.S.Cl. ..206/223;206/329;206/332; 217/265 51 lm. (31.2 B65D 85/30;B65D 85/54; B65D 25/12 [58] Field of Search 206/223; 312/328, DIG. 33;221/307; 138/110; 217/265 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,008,429 7/1935 Weatherhead, Jr 220/20 2,228,824 1/1941 Hermann 339/1092,541,890 2/1951 Schaperkotter et a1. 220/23 3,171,700 3/1965 Parsell eta1. .1 206/233 X 3,254,756 6/1966 Rankin 206/223 X 3,371,975 3/1968Meltzer 206/223 X 3,708,084 1/1973 Bixler et a1. 217/265 PrimaryExaminer-Leonard Summer Attorney, Agent, or FirmBean & Bean [57]ABSTRACT There is disclosed an improved tool carrying case, specificallydesigned to accommodate equipment employed by electrical power supplyline maintenance personnel for use as when jumping a power supply linearound an electrical device requiring surveillance/replacement, or thelike. The carrying case of the present invention is constructed toaccommodate in improved manner a number of differently sized fuses, aswell as the test tool parts per se.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 46 Ill U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 3,926,308

TOOL CARRYING CASE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION differently sized fuses. Thepresent invention provides an improved tool accessory and fuse carryingcase embodying novel features of construction whereby to facilitateaccommodation of the tool as well as a variety of substitute fuses tomeet a variety of field conditions, in such manner as to store the toolparts and fuses compactly within a minimum sized carrying case and insuch manner as to be restrained against shifting about when the case isclosed and being carried from place to place, while being at the sametime readily accessible for use when the case is opened. It is to beunderstood that the present invention relates only to the carrying casefor accommodating the tool and its accessories as referred tohereinabove, and bears no relation to the tool per se as described indetail hereinafter; and I make no claim thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of apreferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating the case cover inopen position and showing the special tool mounted therein on itsspecial carrying tray;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the case as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 but illustrates the toolcarrying tray as being swung upwardly to show the fuse carryingarrangement in the lower level of the case;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating in better detail the nature of the specialtool being accommodated in.the case as shown at FIGS. 1-3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken as suggested byline 55 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As illustrated herein, thecarrying case of the invention is designed to accommodate in compactlyand securely stowed positions therein a specific type linesmans testtool such as is best shown at FIG. 4 and is generally designated as wellas an assortment of fuses such as are indicated by the numeral 12 whichare to be selectively employed therewith. The case is designatedgenerally by the numeral 15 and includes a boxlike body portion 16; atop cover or lid portion 18; and an inside tray 20. The tray is providedwith a finger lift tab 21. As best shown in FIG. 2, the cover 18 ishinged to the body 16 as illustrated at 22, and the tray 20 is hinged tothe body 16 as illustrated at 24 so as to be independently swingablebetween open and closed positions as shown in the drawing herewith.Latches (or any other suitable form of locks or the like) as shown at2626 provide for holding the closed case parts securely together whilethe case is being carried from place to place, and a suitable carryinghandle as shown at 28 is provided to facilitate its handling andtransport.

The carrying case of the present invention is specifically designed toaccommodate the certain type of linesmans test tool device which isillustrated in detail at FIG. 4 herewith. As shown therein, the tool isassembled by first selecting from the case an appropriately sized fusewhich has been capacity prescribed according to conventional schedulesrelating transformer KVA with relevant fuse sizes; and then attachingthereto requisite jumper line accessories such as to enable a linesmanto temporarily by-pass an electrical device requiringrepair/replacement, while at the same time avoiding an electricaloverload on the by-pass system.

Thus, more specifically as shown herein, when assembled the toolincludes a hanger fitting as shown at 30 which is adapted to beset-screw-fastened or otherwise attached to the upper end of a size-wisepreselected fuse l2 taken from the kit as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, herewith.Thus, the fitting 30 adapts the fuse 12 to be hung upon a live wire suchas shown for example at G (FIG. 1) in US. Pat. No. 2,472,000. Typically,the hanger 30 includes a lifting lever such as shown at 32 which ispivotally mounted on the fitting and is formed with an eye portion 34into which the linesmans conventional type switch stick may be engaged.Thereby the linesman is provided with physical control for positioningthe device relative to a live wire and in the hooking of its line clampmechanism 36 thereon, whereby the fuse may be brought into electricalconnection with the live wire. Also, as shown herein, such toolstypically include a bottom fitting as illustrated at 38 which is alsoadapted to be set-screw or otherwise fastened to the lower end of thepreselected fuse 12. The fitting 38 electrically connects the fuse 12 toa conductor 40 which in this case is illustrated as a resiliently coiledcable, and therethrough to a so-called switchstick head 42. This headincludes a hook portion as shown at 44 terminating in an enlargeddiameter head portion 45.

By means of this arrangement the linesman is enabled to initially engagethe upper end of his switch-stick into the lifting eye portion 34 of thelever 32 and to then drape the clamp device 36 thereof over the livewire so as to make electrical connection therewith. I-Ie thereuponmaneuvers his control stick so as to electrically interconnect thebottom fitting (via the conductor 40 and head hook 44) with theconductor downstream of the device which is to be jumped.

It is to be specifically noted that fuses of the type that are employedin connection with such operations and such as are designated generallyat 12 herein have protruding from their bottom ends so-called squibs asshown at 46. These squibs must (during transportation and/or otherhandling of the fuses) be protected against pressure-contacts fromexternal sources. Also, such fuses include adjacent their hanger endsenlarged diameter collars as indicated at 48 in the drawing herewith. Toaccommodate the kit of fuses as shown herein at FIGS. 2, 3, 5, thebottom of the case of the present invention provides a special fusenesting arrangement. As shown herein, such an arrangement may comprise aspecial liner 50 attached to the bottom of the case body portion 16. Or,the wall of the case per se may be so formed.

As shown herein, the liner comprises a specially shaped molding or thelike which may be fabricated .from any preferred material and formedinto the desired shape by any suitable process so as to present at itsupper surface as best shown in FIG. 2 a series of parallel valleys asindicated at 52. Thus the valleys 52 are adapted to accommodate a supplyof fuses as explained hereinabove so as to be individually nested inparallel, independently available relation. It is to be particularlynoted that the liner 50 also includes transversely directed cooperatingridges as are illustrated at 54, 56, 57, which are disposed at differentpositions longitudinally of the assembly thereby providing intermediatecross valleys 58 into which the collars 48 of the fuses are received.Thus, the valleys and ridges cooperate to lock fuses of assorted sizesinto the fuse cradling structure, and a large assortment of differentlysized fuses may thus be laid down and accommodated in the valleyportions 52 of the liner 50. Also, along the opposite edge of the liner50 it is formed with a single upstanding ridge 59 which is located so asto cooperate with the squib ends of the fuses (without interference withthe squibs per se) so as to more securely locate the fuses againstaccidental dislodgement from their proper positions in the case.

The tray portion 20 of the case is so dimensioned and hingedlypositioned interiorly of the case that when the tray 20 is lowered intothe case and the cover 18 is closed and latched relative to the casebody 16, the tray 20 is thereby secured in bearing relation against theupper surfaces of the fuses so as to prevent them from any accidentaldislodgements from the valley portions 52 of the liner 50. Furthermore,as best shown at FIG. 3, the tray 20 is circularly apertured asindicated at 60 to accommodate in press-fitted relation therein theenlarged end portion 45 of the tool hook 44. Accordingly, when the tray20 is lowered into the case so as to rest upon the fuses the testingtool may then be bedded in the tray in compact folded condition as bestshown at FIG. 1.

A hold-down device in the form of a snap-strap 62 is provided todetachably clamp the heavier fuse portion 12 of the tool firmly againstthe bottom of the tray. Incidental to stowing the tool in the tray theenlarged head portion 45 of the hook member 44 is press-fitted throughthe aperture 60 in the bottom of the tray, so as to protrudetherethrough as shown at FIGS. 2, 3. Note that the aperture 60 is solocated in the bottom of the tray 20 as to cause the head portion 45 ofthe hook to protrude into the bottom section of the case adjacent theend thereof so as to completely clear the ends of the fuses 12 thereinand to avoid any interferences with them and/or their squib portions 46.

Thus, the hook end portion 45 is employed to positionally stabilize thetool when bedded in the tray, and when the cover 18 is lowered andlatched in closed position it bears against the upper portion of thehook 44 as it appears in FIG. 1, thereby assuring that the hook may notaccidentally retract from the aperture 60. This cooperative arrangementof parts assures an improved nesting arrangement for the tool in thecase; while at the same time providing utmost convenience with respectto the availability of the tool and fuse components upon opening of thecase.

The case body, tray, and lid portions may be fabricated of any suitablesheet-like material according to strength and stiffness and wearabilityrequirements as dictated by the weights of the tool and the fuses to beaccommodated and as illustrated at 64 the corners of the case body andcover portions will preferably be reinforced. In all respects the caseparts will of course be designed and constructed to meet specificationsin ac- 4 cordance with the field use conditions anticipated to beencountered.

I claim:

1. A tool carrying case for accommodating in separately nested relationtherein a plurality of electrical fuses of the same or different lengthswhich include reduced-diameter pressure-vulnerable end portions andenlarged collar portions, and a power line maintenance linesmans toolincluding fittings for detachable connections to opposite ends of suchfuses, one of said fittings having a flexible conductor extendingtherefrom and terminating in an extended hook portion;

said case comprising an open box-like bottom and side-walled bodyportion and a hingedly connected cover portion and a hingedly connectedinner tray portion adapted to nest interiorly of said case inpredetermined spaced relation between the bottom wall of said bodyportion and said cover portion;

said bottom wall of said body portion including a plurality of parallelridge portions defining valleys between each adjacent pair of ridgeportions to receive an assortment of such aforesaid fuses in parallelnested relation therein to positionally locate such fuses within saidbody portion against sidewise dislocations thereof, said bottom wallhaving an upstanding ledge at one end of said ridge portions to presenta transverse abutment surface engaging the ends of said fuses whileclearing said end portions thereof and each adjacent pair of ridgeportions having transversely aligned interrupted portions presentingchannels snugly receiving said collar portions of a particular fuse,said channels being located at fixed distances from said abutmentsurface whereby said channels and said abutment surface bothindividually and collectively positionally locate said fuses againstlongitudinal dislocations thereof, and at least some of said ridgeportions having plural channel interruptions therein whereby fuses ofdifferent lengths may be accommodated;

said predetermined spacing of said inner tray portion from said bottomwall being selected to cause said inner tray portion to bear downwardlyat its bottom surface upon such nested fuses when said tray portion islowered into the interior of said body portion and including means forholding said linesmans tool in compactly nested and positionallyrestrained relation when resting upon the upper surface of said trayportion so as to preclude dislocations of said fuses from theirsecurements within said body portion and/or positional dislocations ofsaid tool relative to said tray portion such as when said case is beingin-field carried and/or otherwise handled;

said cover portion being disposed in predetermined spaced relation tosaid inner tray portion when the cover is closed so as to beardownwardly against said tool when carried by said tray portion andrestrain said tool in compactly nested relation upon said tray portion;

said case including releasable latching means for holding said coverportion securely in closed relation to said tray portion and said bodyportion to maintain said predetermined spacings;

whereby upon placement of one or more fuses within said valley/ridgemeans said inner tray portion may then be moved into position so as topositionally secure said fuses, and said linesmans tool may then 3. Atool carrying case according to claim 2, wherein said holding meansincludes a hold-down strap device. 4. A tool carrying case according toclaim 2, wherein said holding means includes an aperture through saidtray portion through which said extended hook portion press-fits so asto positionally secure that portion of said tool.

1. A tool carrying case for accommodating in separately nested relationtherein a plurality of electrical fuses of the same or different lengthswhich include reduced-diameter pressurevulnerable end portions andenlarged collar portions, and a power line maintenance linesman''s toolincluding fittings for detachable connections to opposite ends of suchfuses, one of said fittings having a flexible conductor extendingtherefrom and terminating in an extended hook portion; said casecomprising an open box-like bottom and side-walled body portion and ahingedly connected cover portion and a hingedly connected inner trayportion adapted to nest interiorly of said case in predetermined spacedrelation between the bottom wall of said body portion and said coverportion; said bottom wall of said body portion including a plurality ofparallel ridge portions defining valleys between each adjacent pair ofridge portions to receive an assortment of such aforesaid fuses inparallel nested relation therein to positionally locate such fuseswithin said body portion against sidewise dislocations thereof, saidbottom wall having an upstanding ledge at one end of said ridge portionsto present a transverse abutment surface engaging the ends of said fuseswhile clearing said end portions thereof and each adjacent pair of ridgeportions having transversely aligned interrupted portions presentingchannels snugly receiving said collar portions of a particular fuse,said channels being located at fixed distances from said abutmentsurface whereby said channels and said abutment surface bothindividually and collectively positionally locate said fuses againstlongitudinal dislocations thereof, and at least some of said ridgeportions having plural channel interruptions therein whereby fuses ofdifferent lengths may be accommodated; said predetermined spacing ofsaid inner tray portion from said bottom wall being selected to causesaid inner tray portion to bear downwardly at its bottom surface uponsuch nested fuses when said tray portion is lowered into the interior ofsaid body portion and including means for holding said linesman''s toolin compactly nested and positionally restrained relation when restingupon the upper surface of said tray portion so as to precludedislocations of said fuses from their securements within said bodyportion and/or positional dislocations of said tool relative to saidtray portion such as when said case is being in-field carried and/orotherwise handled; said cover portion being disposed in predeterminedspaced relation to said inner tray portion when the cover is closed soas to bear downwardly against said tool when carried by said trayportion and restrain said tool in compactly nested relation upon saidtray portion; said case including releasable latching means for holdingsaid cover portion securely in closed relation to said tray portion andsaid body portion to maintain said predetermined spacings; whereby uponplacement of one or more fuses within said valley/ridge means said innertray portion may then be moved into position so as to positionallysecure said fuses, and said linesman''s tool may then be nested upon theupper surface of said tray portion and said cover portion may then belowered and releasably secured to said body portion, thereby renderingsaid case suitable to in-field handling without hazards to saidpressure-vulnerable end portions of said fuses.
 2. A tool carrying caseaccording to claim 1, wherein said tray portion includes holding meansfor detachably securing said tool thereto.
 3. A tool carrying caseaccording to claim 2, wherein said holding means includes a hold-downstrap device.
 4. A tool carrying case according to claim 2, wherein saidholding means includes an aperture through said tray portion throughwhich said extended hook portion press-fits so as to positionally securethat portion of said tool.